This was a short-term collaborative project with a classmate. By the time I joined, my partner had already completed the overall script concept and storyboard. I added some extra details to the story, such as including a scene where the robot scans a toy to bring some humor and give it a touch of “emotion.” I also introduced the use of different colored “X” marks to represent different processing methods, which served as a setup for the later conflict.
In terms of responsibilities, I mainly worked on cinematography, compositing, editing, color grading, and sound design, while my teammate, Jin Ling’an, handled modeling, texturing, and animation.
Compositing
During compositing, one of the biggest challenges was the large number of shots combined with noticeable lighting changes during filming. Since the robot character had a metallic surface, it needed to accurately reflect the kitchen environment and lighting, which made maintaining color consistency across shots difficult. To make the footage appear more natural, I added subtle camera shake to simulate handheld shooting.
In addition, I created several “robot vision” shots in After Effects, using the Form effect to overlay a texture that resembled an LED screen, further enhancing the technological feel of the film.
Editing
The main challenge in editing was the heavy reliance on sound effects to make the visuals feel realistic and alive. At the same time, I aimed to keep the atmosphere in the first half of the film lighthearted and energetic, so that it could create a stronger contrast leading up to the final conflict.
Reflection
The biggest strength of this collaboration was how well our skills complemented each other. My partner was strong in modeling, animation, and VFX, while I took care of shooting, compositing, and editing. Thanks to this combination, we were able to produce a short film with a complete storyline and decent quality within a limited timeframe.
Technically, the compositing process itself didn’t present too many unsolvable problems. However, we underestimated the workload in the early stages, which resulted in a very tight schedule towards the end. This experience made me realize that accurate project planning and clearer communication are essential for efficient teamwork.
Although our project management skills still have room for improvement, I truly felt the power of good collaboration and complementary strengths. Even under constraints, teamwork enabled us to achieve more than we could individually. Moving forward, I will carry this lesson into future collaborations, not only focusing on creativity and execution but also improving my planning and management abilities.